The only suggestion I have for you: listen for yourself. Book a test ride, pick some music that is relevant for your tastes and listen in different cars. Decide what you find acceptable or what would make you pay a premium for. Very few options are as personal as audio setups.

 

I have a 2013 C70 with the ‘base system’; which I would bet hasn’t changed much in the modern vehicles. Surely a little but, I’d bet nothing radical. And it’s ok. It does the job, it’s my wife’s car and she’s never had a complaint. And she’s heard good car radios. Perfectly OK.
But I am damn happy the BW system is in my new Volvo.

 

I have had all of the systems, over 7 different Volvos. The B&W is worth the upgrade, the HK is not in my opinion. Better to go base and make changes than to go HK.

 

I strongly disagree after having a loaner vehicle w high performance audio system and a vehicle with H/K. The HP audio system is OK but is easily overwhelmed with bassy tones and has an overpowering midrange. Detail is lacking and the highs are flat. Max volume isn't great either. Without an EQ I wouldn't dare be bothered to keep the base audio system. Google cars have no EQ unless you get a polestar

For $800 the H/K system is a no brainer w extra, better speakers, a 10 inch subwoofer, and surround sound that actually sounds good. It's a 3.1 system w/o surround sound on and that may bother people but regardless it's still way ahead of the HP system in many ways. Especially if you listen to any complex music or bass heavy music or want a system that doesn't sound lifeless like the HP system does. If you listen to FM radio, either would be fine..

It also paves the way for an easy B&W upgrade, which the base HP system does not.

 

I can't speak to B&W or H/K because I haven't spent enough time with each. I will say that Volvo's stock systems are usually described as "good enough", whereas people I know with base Audi sound systems, for example, say they're terrible. I don't think I've heard a bad Volvo sound system in my time.

I had BOSE in my Chevy Volt which I loved (and didn't appreciate as much as I should have). The base 6-speaker system in my Mazda was not good, but I was able to tune it with the custom EQ settings so that it was bearable. The way it came from the factory, it was ear-piercingly bad with certain music. The base system in my 2013 S60 is pretty good for what it is. I would love to have an upgraded system in my next car, since I listen to tons of music at moderate / high volume, but I think I could continue living with Volvo's base audio setups. To the untrained ear they're pretty good.

 

Base audi systems are definitely trash. Like horrific. Volvo HP sound is definitely a step up from their garbage base audio systems.

 

Greetings guys. Happy New Year to all of you. I just wanted to ask your thoughts/opinions on the various audio systems available for the current gen Volvo's. I really wanted to hear from those who have had or have the stock system, and those of you that have the HK option. The B&W speaks for itself really.

Really just depends on how important audio is to you. I have the hk on my V60CC and it's fine for $800. Audio isn't super important to me so being a bit of a cheapskate I'd have a hard time spending 4x for the Bowers. YMMV. Agree on going on an extended test drive to hear all three systems.

 

If you care any about audio get the HK. The subwoofer and center channel speakers are a MASSIVE upgrade over the base system. For $800 it's one of the best uses of money, and aftermarket upgrading of the base system will struggle to give you similar performance for $800 once you include all the labor.

BW is phenomenal, but many don't car enough about nuanced music to spend that much. However I think EVERYONE could tell the difference between the base and HK system, it's night and day. It's a shame Volvo stopped including HK in some of the most common configurations where 90% of them had it back at the beginning of SPA models.

 

I agree, my wife and I have had two cars with each. Her 2023 XC90T8 and my 2024 V60PE with B&W, and her 2024 XC6B5 and my 2020 V60T5 with the HK. In my opinion the HD has more adjustments, and once you are moving, it is hard to tell the difference. I have no experience with the basic unit though, it too might be ok, I don't know.

 

I have listened to the HK before and it sounds fine but the B&W just sounds fantastic imo. It has a real depth to it. It really does almost sound like a concert hall. I love it but I listen to a lot of music.

 

IMO the sound systems sound better in something like the XC90 because you have more space and idk it just has a more complete sound to it, it feels like it fills the cabin more or something but in the other cars it sounds good too.

 

To my untrained ears, I honestly prefer the base system over the HK, except the base system is a little lacking in base. I'm sure B&W is better, but a whole lot more expensive too.

 

Well that's history in the making....preferring the base system LOL. I'm not sure how anyone could arrive at that conclusion. Care to elaborate? As you already stated the base is not very good, and the HK offers much crisper highs, more clarity at any volume and the center channel speaker that creates a natural sound stage. What exactly about the HK system makes it inferior to the base system? Have you actually owned a HK or BW car?

 

If it was me, I would just get the HK and be done with it. I've never listened to the B&W system and I fear if I did, I wouldn't be able to live without it. I've also had a car with the High Performance audio and it was meh at best. HK is a good middle ground.

 

@OVLOVOWNER Oh btw hey Farmer! 👋

 

If you do long distance road trip frequently, go with BW.

Also you will want to use carplay or aaos instead of using Bluetooth streaming since quality of audio source is very important.

 

On the roadnoise issue; I would definitely recommend the laminated windows option when buying B&W. That will cancel out a lot of the ambient noise that reaches the cockpit.

 

I’ve had 2 HK systems and now have the B&W. I’ve had other high end systems in Lexus and Jaguars(although the Jag system was top shelf) but the B&W is all what people say, you have to listen to it and of course source of music is important. If music is important to you, then over time you will forget the upgrade cost and be happy you went for it, at least that has been my experience. YMMV

 

I used to install high end automotive stereo equipment and always replace my stock systems with good aftermarket equipment. The B&W is the first factory system I've owned where I didn't want to tear it out. If you appreciate music, or want to hear your music in a new light, get the B&W. It's a really solid factory system with non of the issues that come from replacing stock equipment.

 

B&W or bust. Over the course of 3 months my car was mostly in the shop I had plenty of Volvo loaners and hands down the B&W is so worth it. The HK is better, at par with a BOSE in Audi or maybe a bit better while the base is as described...neutered! Even if you 'say' you don't like music when you hear music presented the way B&W does you will be converted and become a snob after a 2+ hour road trip listening to your favorite tunes.

 

Base audio is fine, and I wouldn't pass up a used car with it for that reason, however, if you're talking about buying a new car and you're taking the time to ask, yes the H&K is worth the $800 upgrade. B&W to me is the best deal of the group, to get that level in your home would cost far more than $3200, making it an excellent value, it just isn't cheap and currently requires going upscale on the trim.

 

When I was looking at used S60s I specifically used the B&W system as a must have option. The nice thing is, the used pricing of the cars with B&W certainly didn't reflect the cost of the B&W option when new so it's an even bigger bargain in the used market.

 

We have one of each - the B&W in the S60 and the HK in my V60. Obviously the choice depends on what you value, but you may want to consider:

1 - the B&W is a hands down easy winner if the vehicle is stationary but at 70 MPH on the highway I cannot tell the difference. So if you do a lot of highway driving (I do) the B&W is not worth it.

2 - most of the stuff I listen to is on a USB drive - copied from CD. The quality on most of these even at the highest available sample rates is not that great. Given high quality input the B&W is clearly better, given a USB copy from a CD it's better but not much better.

 

Dual pane glass helps eliminate this significantly. Up till about 100 mph....not that I have tested that